Stand Up and Be Heard - Authentic public speaking at university
By Dr. Rob Grieve
In December 2019, only a few months before a worldwide Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, my book on public speaking for university students, Stand Up and Be Heard (SUBH) was published.
Publishing a book to support fearful students, with the focus on strategies to encourage public speaking before a national lockdown, resulting in limited face to face public interaction was unfortunate timing. During the last two years, most student interactions were not in public but behind a computer screen. In July of 2021, we published a qualitative research study on student fears of oral presentations/public speaking which has had a phenomenal response of 23K downloads and rising. The main finding was that student fears of public speaking may negatively affect their university experience and that more university support is required. The findings from this research and its impact, are further validation on the importance of this issue, the need for more student support and a different approach to public speaking.
As academics when we set oral presentations, it is easy to take for granted that many students will not feel comfortable giving a presentation. When we try to increase student interaction in our teaching by asking questions, are we sometimes disappointed when greeted by silence? There is clear evidence that many university students worldwide, have a fear of public speaking in higher education that affects their ability in oral presentations or public verbal interactions. Now in late 2022, after a reduction in face-to-face public speaking opportunities, many students may feel even less comfortable speaking in public.
As an academic with a mild stammer, I have always been aware of my own public speaking fears when standing up in front of 100 plus students in a lecture hall. This has in turn increased my empathy for and awareness of students with a fear of public speaking. I reduced my fear of public speaking and improved my teaching skills by acknowledging my fear, moving away from a focus on slick presentation and perfection. Instead, the focus became more on being an authentic public speaker, which is the approach used in my student workshops and resultant SUBH book.
Students have responded very positively to the authentic public speaker approach and have felt more at ease speaking in public. The focus on authenticity is a move away from many ‘perfection’ based presentation skill texts and approaches. In the SUBH workshops and book, the focus is on the following components that may enable authentic public speaker, namely:
Being present in the moment - The focus is on the speaking task at hand and being OK with standing in front of an audience. Importantly, being present in the moment means being absorbed in the present speaking task, focusing on the audience and what you are about to say.
Be yourself - In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken”. Research suggests that the experience of expressing one’s authentic self may reduce aspects of social anxiety disorder, of which a fear of public speaking is an example. The audience are more likely to trust you and your message if they feel that the speaker is being genuine and speaking from the heart.
Vulnerability - An acknowledged challenge in public speaking is being the focal point of attention and feeling vulnerable. Importantly, vulnerability does not equate with weakness or the inability to be an effective and authentic public speaker. In 2010 Brené Brown delivered a TED Talk called the “Power of Vulnerability” and has published widely on vulnerability. According to Brown, we need to appreciate the courage behind vulnerability and not see it as a weakness.
Let go of perfectionism - There is clear evidence that students strive for perfection in their grades, which may in turn manifest itself in oral presentations. Students, often focus on perfection in respect of fluency and slickness of presentation over substance, which in turn may increase the pressure on themselves and increase their public speaking fear. To be authentic we do not need to radically change our style of speaking or be perfect.
In conclusion, to become an authentic public speaker takes time and practice but ultimately will decrease your public speaking fear and will give you a life skill beyond university.
Book Details
Stand Up and Be Heard
Dr. Rob Grieve
December 2019
ISBN: 9781526463616
About the Author
